Misty Copeland is ready for her next chapter. The dancer, who made history in 2015 as the first Black woman to achieve principal ballerina status at the American Ballet Theatre, will retire from her long-held role this fall. A ballet prodigy who grew up in poverty and joined ABT just four years after taking her first ballet lesson at age 13, Copeland’s unlikely backstory captivated audiences when she made her professional debut in 2000. Her meteoric rise in the dance world translated into mainstream celebrity status in the 2010s, with Copeland appearing on Broadway and in film, publishing seven books, and performing with both Prince and Taylor Swift. Now 42, Copeland has been gradually stepping back from her role at ABT since 2019, instead focusing on philanthropic endeavors like the Misty Copeland Foundation, which provides affordable ballet lessons to children from underserved communities. She also welcomed a son, Jackson, in 2022. The American Ballet Theatre will celebrate her official retirement with a farewell event on October 22, where Copeland will perform for the first time in five years. While she hasn’t shared many details about what’s next, Copeland told the Associated Press that this won’t be the last time she dances. “Never say never,” added the dancer.
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